Waiter foils a date rape predator as he spikes girl's drink

A businessman who tried to drug a woman in an upmarket restaurant was caught when a waiter spotted him spiking her drink.

Property developer Rohail Spall, 39, was seen dropping a date-rape pill in the young banker's glass of red wine.

He had earlier told the waiter to keep her drink topped up because he wanted to 'knock her out' and have sex with her.

Police, who found hundreds of the pills in his car, fear the father of four was a serial sexual predator who could have carried out drug rapes in the past.

Spall, who was found guilty of administering a drug with intent to commit a sexual offence last month, was told he will be sentenced next month. The crime has a maximum sentence of ten years.

He met his victim, who is in her 20s, in June last year in a bar in Canary Wharf, Inner London Crown Court heard.

After a few drinks, the woman, whose name cannot be given for legal reasons, agreed to go for dinner.

The pair went to Fish!, a restaurant in Borough Market, in Spall's chauffeur- driven Mercedes. In the back of the car, Spall kept trying to kiss the woman, but she rebuffed his advances.

Once at the restaurant, when the woman went to the toilet, Spall told Kevin Murphy, the head waiter, to keep his girlfriend's glass topped up 'because he wanted to have sex with her later that night,' the court heard.

He also said he wanted 'something strong, something special' as he wanted her knocked out.

Over dinner Spall tried to persuade the woman to stay the night at his house, but she refused. When she went to the toilet again Mr Murphy, 30, saw him drop a tablet into her drink.

He told her what he had seen and the police were called. When Spall was searched, a Xanax tablet was found in his pocket and he was arrested.

The tablet and the drink were sent for analysis, where it was confirmed that the drink contained the drug. Police who searched the Mercedes discovered hundreds of the sedatives.

A spokesman said: 'The fear is there are other women he may have targeted in this way in the past. If this is the case we would appeal to those women to contact their local police station.'

Spall was due to be sentenced, but the case was adjourned as he had dispensed with the services of his barrister. He was remanded in custody.

After the trial, Detective Sergeant Brian Willis said: 'Fortunately, this type of incident is rare. However, this case highlights just how dangerous men like Spall are.

'Thankfully, due to the astute actions of the waiter, Spall's offence was spotted, and he was caught.'

At her home in Ilford, East London, Spall's estranged wife Aneela said: 'He would never have done this, he's not that kind of man.

'I am the only woman in his life and he used to come over all the time to see our children. I would take him back to live with me when he comes out of prison.'

Mr Murphy said: 'Luckily I was in the right place at the right time, and I'm pleased nothing worse happened. I believe anyone of the other staff would have done the same.'